INDIANAPOLIS — A bill seeking to create a commission to explore increased passenger rail operations in Indiana will be heard in the state Senate this week, WXIN-TV reports.
Senate Bill 13 would create a commission including representatives from the Indiana Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Adminstration, state General Assembly, and rail advocacy organizations. It would look for ways to expand the state rail system and ensure the state uses available federal funding to increase passenger service.
Scott Manning, deputy chief of staff for INDOT, told the station the timing of the bill is important, “given the passage of the federal infrastructure bill late last year, which does include increased federal funding for passenger rail.”
The bill passed out of committee on a 5-3 vote.
Since this is Indiana, nothing will come of this bill.
Look at the photo. The asphaltic platform is well below the level of the rail height. Was this a fourth-world passenger service? At the time of the photo, we were decades into Amtrak but couldn’t build a proper passenger platform.
Installing an ADA compliant platform would be an Amtrak condition to begin operating the service; thus allowing Amtrak to use their ADA funds elsewhere.
Unless they first invest in the route (or maybe arrange to use another more direct reroute), it will be to slow and not attract enough passengers. Flying will continue to much more convenient.
Indiana: YOU BUY – WE’LL FLY.
If this actually turns into real passenger service of any kind, I will eat my hat.
This is going nowhere just grab some infrastructure money & launder it for other purposes.
Guessing the regular BS will be said and nothing happens, Indiana Senate will shot themselves in the foot again.